Features of Symbols
This feature means symbols are not intrinsically connected to what they represent.
What is arbitrary?
This principle states that meaning is created through this process.
What is interpretation?
Using a single label to define an entire person is called this.
What is totalizing?
This guideline encourages recognizing another person’s perspective while communicating.
What is dual perspective?
Language that specifies observable behaviors is called this.
What is concrete language?
This feature explains why symbols can have multiple meanings.
What is ambiguous?
These rules tell us when, where, and how to talk about something.
What are regulative rules?
Words that strongly slant perception are called this.
What is loaded language?
“I feel frustrated when meetings start late” is an example of this type of language.
What is I-language?
Comparative words like “better” or “worse” without a clear standard are examples of this.
What is relative language?
This feature explains why the word dog is not the animal; it's just letters we agree mean dog.
What is abstract?
These rules tell us how to understand certain communication acts (e.g., what counts as flirting).
What are constitutive rules?
The mental frameworks we use to organize experiences are called this.
What are schemata?
For good communication, we should always strive for these two things.
What are accuracy and clarity?
This practice involves recognizing that people and experiences change over time.
What is indexing?
Which feature is reflected in the fact that the word “home” may feel comforting to one person and stressful to another.
What is ambiguous?
This concept explains how partners may see the same conflict differently in the demand–withdraw pattern.
What is punctuation?
These are generalized beliefs about groups of people, and they can be positive or negative.
What are stereotypes?
When certain groups are excluded from full participation in society through language and labeling, this condition is occurring.
What is marginalization?
Saying “You always interrupt” instead of describing specific instances reflects this type of assessment.
What is static evaluation?
A symbol is defined as a representation of this.
What are phenomena?
When shared understandings guide how we interpret communication—even if those understandings are never explicitly stated—they are called this.
What are communication rules?
Language allows us to imagine future possibilities and reflect on the past. This capacity is called this.
What is hypothetical thought?
The ability to use symbols to reflect on who we are and who we want to become depends on this capacity.
What is self-reflection?
Moving from “animal” to “dog” to “golden retriever” to “my dog Charlie” illustrates this process.